Sealing machine



June 12, 1956 J. F. COLLEY SEALING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1953 I INVENTOR. Jo s'fw F [13:15)

BY WW ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 J. F. COLLEY SEALING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1953 l r lllll l IH IN V E N TOR. JbssP/i [QLLEY ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 J. F. COLL'EY SEALING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed July 1, 1953 [NI E NTOR. J'osE/ a Ffausy ATTORNEY SEALING MACHINE Joseph Frank Colley, Savannah, Ga., assignor to Union Bag & Paper Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 1, 1953, Serial No. 365,483

14 Claims. (Cl. 53-124) The present invention relates to improvements in sealing machines. More particularly it pertains to a machine for sealing envelopes or bags, especially envelopes or bags which are non-uniform in thickness because of the nature of the product in the envelope or bag.

Household bags, such as lunch, garbage and sandwich bags, are packaged in envelopes for convenient use by housewives and others. Usually the sandwich and lunch bags are inserted in the envelope flat, whereas the stacked garbage bags are folded once. Such fold immediately creates a problem because the envelope bulges more at one side than the other. Other than the machine of the present invention, no machine has been found which will effectively seal the envelope so filled and turn out a pack age having a straight and neat closure. Consequently it has been heretofore necessary to seal these envelopes by hand. The present invention eliminates the hand sealing and provides a machine which automatically seals envelopes or envelope-like bags (all referred to herein as envelopes) regardless of non-uniformity in thickness caused by the product in the envelope and delivers from the end of the machine a neat, straight and compact package.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will seal filled envelopes in a continuous operation at a lower cost.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the type described well suited to operate in a practical and eflicient manner.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the sealing unit of the machine with the upper draw rolls omitted;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views of the sealing unit showing the various stages in the sealing of the envelope;

Figure 6 is a top view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view across an envelope filled with bags folded once.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a sealing machine made up of three sections, namely a conveyor section A for carrying the filled unsealed envelopes to the unit, a sealing unit B, and a stacking section C.

The conveyor section, Figures 1 and 2, is made up of a table 10 on which the filled unsealed envelopes flap nited States Patent 0 forward can be placed. Such table has side rails 11 to prevent the envelopes from sliding off the sides and keep them in proper position. The table has a trough 12 running its full length in which rides an endless sprocket chain 13 provided with a series of spaced lugs 14 to move the envelopes on the table in spaced relation to the sealing unit. The sprocket chain 13 runs over sprocket wheel 15 and 16 at each end of the table. The shaft 16a carrying the sprocket wheel 16 is provided at one end with another sprocket wheel 17 by means of which it is driven through the sprocket chain 18 in synchronism with the draw roll of the sealing unit. The side rails of the table at the end adjacent the sealing unit have spring loaded self centering guides 19 which square up and center the moving envelopes. The table and conveyor assembly has suitable supports 20 for elevating it to the proper height.

From the conveyor table the envelope moves to the sealing unit (Figures 2 and 3). Here the envelope first passes between a pair of draw rolls supported on each side by a frame 21, upper roll 22 being rubber faced and the lower roll 23 being of knurled steel. The combination of a rubber faced roll and the knurled steel prevents the envelope from slipping in any direction. A plate 24 mounted on the frame and projecting in the direction of the approaching envelope serves to push the flap of the envelope downward and guide it into the draw rolls. The upper roll is spring loaded to compress the filled envelope (Figure 1). This forms a uniformly shaped package and allows the sealed envelopes to fit into a smaller shipping carton.

The draw rolls move the filled envelope with the flap on top between a pair of upper and lower package guides or pressure plates 25 and 26 (Figure 3). These plates are held by bolts 27 to the sides of the frame with suitable separating blocks 28 between them to assure uniform space to make the envelopes compressed by the draw rolls (Figures 2 and 6). The lower plate 26, shown in Figure 6, is equipped with a series of doifers 29 which project backward into corresponding grooves 23a in the lower draw roll 23 and serve to peel or strip the envelope from the draw rolls. The upper plate 25 has a series of slots 25a through which extend flap guide springs 30. These springs are secured at one end to the plate and extend below such plate to contact the envelope flap as it passes under the plate (Figure 3). These springs start the flap downward and are the first step in the folding of the flap. As the envelope continues its movement the flap is further folded when it makes contact with one or more pressure loaded deflector plates 31 fastened by a series of hinges 32 to the upper plate 25. The deflector plate or plates, which may either be straight or slightly curved, are normally at an angle to the upper plate as shown in Figure 3. As shown herein, the deflector plate is maintained in this angular position by spring loaded fulcrum arms 33 and 34 linked together, the end of the arm 33 being secured to the deflector plate and the end of the other arm 34 being mounted on a fulcrum bracket 35 secured to the upper plate 25. The springs 36 between the bracket 35 and the arm 34 serve to determine the pressure which the deflector plate will apply to the envelope flap and envelope. The holes 34a in the fulcrum arm 34 permit such pressure to be varied which is desirable for different types of bags packaged in the envelope being sealed. In some cases the contents of the envelope exert a greater back pressure and therefore require greater pressure to properly fold and position the flap. It is also possible to substitute weights for the springs 36 so that the application of different weights will vary the pressure which the deflector plate or plates apply against the flap and envelope.

In the case of bags which are folded prior to insertion in the envelope which results in a package having diiferent bulk on one side than the other, as shown in Figure 7, it has been found advantageous to split the deflector plate into two parts, as shown in Figure 2. This permits a different pressure to be applied on each part so that a greater pressure may be exerted on the side of the envelope having the greater bulk. If the envelope being sealed is uniform in thickness a single deflector plate has been found satisfactory.

The lower plate 26 is provided with a series of slots 26a which allow a liquid applicator to apply adhesive or water to the face of the envelope against which the flap will fold. Such applicator 37a, made of metal for use with adhesive and of sponge rubber for water, is affixed to an applicator roll 37 and is provided with a series of segments positioned and of the proper size to fit between the slots 26a in the lower plate. The applicator roll 37 rotates at the proper speed to apply a series of spots of adhesive or water on each envelope passing through the unit. During such rotation the segments of the applicator 37a pick up sufficient adhesive from the adhesive roll 38 which in turn revolves in the pot 39 of adhesive 40 (Figures 3 and 4). In the case of water the adhesive roll 38 is omitted and a pan 41 inserted above the pot 39 so that the segments of the applicator 37a pick up the water 42 directly from the pan (Figure Where adhesive is used doctor blades are employed for the roll and applicator to allow the correct amount of adhesive to be applied to the envelope. It will be understood that this machine is suitable for use with either gummed envelopes in which case only water is used or for ungummed envelopes which require adhesive.

As the envelope continues its movement, as shown in Figure 4, and the flap is bent downward first by the springs 30 and then by the deflector plate 31, the flap and then the envelope come into contact with the sealing plate 43. This plate is mounted on each side frame and extends across the unit. It is made up of (1) a vertical surface 43a which keeps the flap in downward position; (2) a curved corner 43b which starts the gradual sealing action; and (3) a horizontal surface 430 which is angled upward slightly to assure a gradual tightening of the sealing as the envelope passes over it. The envelope with the sealed flap then enters between a second pair of upper and lower draw rolls 44 and 45, which further press the sealed envelope and deliver it to a series of conveyor belts, those associated with the upper draw roll 44 being designated as 46 and those with the lower draw roll 45 as 47.

It will be noted in Figure 5 that the first and second pairs of draw rolls are so spaced that the first set does not release the sealed envelope until the second set has received it. Furthermore, the sealed flap is still being held by the sealing plate when the envelope enters the second set of draw rolls.

The conveyor belts hold the sealed envelope tight to allow the adhesive to set up. Such belts fit into a series of grooves in the draw rolls 44 and 45 at one end and grooved idler rolls 48 and 49 at the other end. The lower belts 47 ride over a guide plate whereas the upper belts 46 run under a series of guide rolls. This arrangement assures a tight grip on the sealed envelope as it passes from one end of the conveyor to the other.

At the end of the sealing unit B the sealed envelopes drop from between the belts 46 and 47 to a catch box 50 from where they are carried in vertical position into a storage conveyor 51. The bags are moved in this storage conveyor by means of belts 52 passing over rolls 53.

The entire machine is driven by a gear head motor 54 through shaft 540 to which is attached a sprocket 55 over which passes a roller chain 56 which in turn drives sprocket 57 afiixed to the shaft 58 of the bottom draw roll 45. On the same shaft is gear 59, which drives the upper draw roll 44 through a gear not shown and also drives intermediate gear 60, which in turn drives the lower draw roll 23 through gear 61 on shaft 62, which gear in turn drives the upper draw roll 22 through a gear not shown. Also aflixed to shaft 62 is a sprocket 63 over which passes chain 18 which drives the conveyor chain as previously described. Returning to shaft 58 there is aflixed thereto a sprocket 64 over which passes a roller chain 65 which drives a sprocket 66 on a countershaft 67. This shaft drives the applicator roll 37 through the chain 68 passing over sprockets 69 and 70. The shaft 71 of the applicator roll 37 drives a gear 72 which in turn drives gear '73 and the adhesive roll 38. The countershaft 67 also drives through the chain 74 a pump (not shown) which pumps adhesive or water from the supply tank 75 to the pct 39 or the pan 41. The countershaft also drives the drive shaft 76 which operates the mechanism of catch box 50 and the storage conveyor 51.

The operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. By employing this invention filled envelopes or envelope-like bags, even though nonuniform in thickness because of the contents packaged therein, may be sealed more efliciently and quickly than by any known machine. Furthermore the machine will deliver a neat, straight and compact sealed envelope.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described means for compressing and moving a filled envelope, pressure plates spaced to receive the compressed envelope therebetween as it moves from the compressing means, a pressure loaded deflector plate hingedly connected to the upper pressure plate and normally disposed at an angle thereto, said deflector plate applying pressure to the flap and face of the envelope, an applicator which applies liquid to the envelope for sealing the flap as the envelope passes between the pressure plate, a sealing plate adjacent the deflector plate comprising a vertical surface which maintains the flap in a downward position, a curved corner which starts the gradual sealing action and a horizontal surface angled upwardly which tightens the sealing as the envelope passes over it, and means for pressing and moving the sealed envelope, said compressing means being spaced from the said pressing means so that the compressing means does not release the envelope until the pressing means has received it.

2. In a machine according to claim 1, means for conveying the filled envelopes to the compressing means.

3. In a machine according to claim 1, means beyond the pressing means for stacking the sealed envelopes.

4. In a machine according to claim 1, in which the compressing means comprises upper and lower draw rolls.

5. In a machine according to claim 4, in which the lower draw roll is provided with a series of grooves and the lower pressure plate has a series of doifers secured thereto, which doffers project backward into the said grooves and strip the envelopes from the draw rolls.

6. In a machine according to claim 4, in which the lower pressure plate is provided with a series of slots to receive the liquid applicator and the liquid applicator is provided with a series of segments to fit between the slots.

7. In a machine of the class described means for compressing and moving flap forward a filled envelope, a pressure loaded deflector plate normally disposed at an angle to the face and flap of the envelope and applying pressure first to the flap and then to the face as the envelope moves from the compressing means, an applicator which applies liquid to the envelope for sealing the flap as the envelope passes beneath the deflector plate, a sealing plate adjacent the deflector plate comprising a surface vertical to the plane of the envelope which maintains the flap in a downward position, a curved corner which starts the gradual scaling action and a horizontal surface angled upwardly from the plane of the envelope which tightens the sealing as the envelope passes over it, and means for pressing the sealed envelope, said compressing means being spaced from the pressing means so that the compressing means does not release the envelope until the pressing means has received it.

8. In a machine according to claim 7, spaced upper and lower pressure plates beyond the compressing means to receive the compressed envelope.

9. In a machine according to claim 8, in which the deflector plate is hingedly connected to the upper pressure plate.

10. In a machine according to claim 8, flap guide springs projecting downwardly through slots in the upper pressure plate against the flap whereby the flap is given its initial downward fold.

11. In a machine of the class described means for compressing and moving flap forward a filled envelope, at least two pressure loaded deflector plates normally disposed at an angle to the face and flap of the envelope and adapted to apply different pressures across the face of the envelope as it moves from the compressing means, an applicator which applies liquid to the envelope for sealing the flap as the envelope passes beneath the deflector plate, a substantially L-shaped sealing plate adjacent the deflector plate which maintains the flap in a downward position and tightens the sealing as the envelope passes over it, and means for pressing and moving the sealed envelope, said compressing means being spaced from the pressing means so that the compressing means does not release the envelope until the pressing means has received it.

12. In a machine according to claim 11, spaced upper and lower pressure plates beyond the compressing means to receive the compressed envelope.

13. In a machine according to claim 12, in which the deflector plates are hingedly connected to the upper pressure Plate.

14. In a machine according to claim 12, flap guide springs projecting downwardly through slots in the upper pressure plate against the flap whereby the flap is given its initial downward fold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,390 Hammersley Jan. 1, 1889 

